Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-11-17

began Choquart, as soon as he set his
eyes on his intended victim. "You'r re
alive, then | thought as much.
But you don't play the monkey with
me any longer, Mister Turk you We
caught the wrong SOW BY the ear this
time, let me tell you"
M. Choquart,' exclaimed the
merchant.
"Ies, sir, my name is Choquart-
Choquart, do you hear, sir?-who'll
have none of this tomfoolery. Your
wife-where is she, your wife? She's
young and pretty. but wants to run a
rig upon me. Your wife, I say,
sverred that you were on your last
legs and would be as dead as her
ring in less than six months, and here
you are, alive and kicking. Now, is
that the way you keep your engage
ments?"
"Ah NJ. Choquart," rejoined the
merchant, who had somewhat recover.
ed from his first fright, II have been
i'll, very ill, indeed, You'll never see
me DON the Turkish garb again. 'Tis
over now. So let me ask you to for.
give and forget any improper thing
may have said on that eventful night"
Zone moment" said Choquart, mot
quite SO fast. please. Do you tender
your excuses in the regular form?"
Faith. | don't quite understand
what form that is. But this I know,
for | have inquired about you and
learned thst you We're right good
fellow. Come, l hive a roasted leg of
mutton with kidney beans. Will you
do me the honor to dine with me, you
and your friend? My wife will be
overjoyed. Aglae, why don't you
come? Here is NJ. Choquart who &C.
cepts an invitation to dine with us"
Of course | nodded assent, while it
was not over difficult to read on Cho.
quarts relaxing countenance that the
roasted leg Of mutton had found the
way to his heart,
Then, again" added NJ. Ballu, who
now felt that he had the game in his
own hands, 81 have a certain Madei-
"a about which I would like TO have
your opinion, NJ. Choquart.
You have no Madeira, sir. retort-
ed Choquart, with deep frown over
his eyelids.
Il say you have no Madeira, sir"
exclaimed the duelist, raising hi.
voice and gesticulating like a mad
man. "And please take notice that
am not to be contradicted on this
point. l have drunk but one glass of
genuine Madeira during the whole
course Of my life. Twas at the
Tuileries. Yes, sir, l had Just re-
covered from sickness, and was on
duty at the kings dinner. A glass of
Madeira having been poured out for
Louis XVIII, his majesty, turning to-
ward the cup bearer, said: Hand
that to Choquart, and give him my
compliments. Do you hear me now ?"
But, Monsieur Choquart, 1 assure
you
Il say that you have no Madeira,
sir, "screeched Choquart, who had
grown furious, and brought his hand
down with terrific force on the wood,
en- counter. "1f you once more dare
to say that you have Madeira wine
I'll tear your head clean off from your
shoulders And what else did say
you had -
well, said the merchant, who was
somewhat staggered at this sudden fl
Of passion. I've a leg of mutton with
kidney beans"
"a leg Of mutton" said Choquart,
in a soft tone of voice, that's good,
when well roasted. But I'm conf
dent twill be overdone Have you
got such thing as a spit?''
"A spit? I should say I had"
burst out NJ. Ballu, with kindling
eyes. "Only just pass this way,
gentleman, and see for yourself"
The merchant led US into a COM
Portable back shop, which answered
the purpose o! dining room. There
on the hearth, in front of a bright
blazing FIRE, a fine leg of mutton
maiestically turned on a spit, like the
planet round the sun.
THAT looks NICE" remarked Cho.
} quart, after q moment of silent con-
temptation. "You are not altogether
an idiot. A man who knows the
worth of spit deserves to live. But
why don't You baste your leg of NUT
ton ?" So saying Choquart took up
the ladIe and began pouring over the